Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century

KRI-OBJ-0094

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 2

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 3

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 4

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 5

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 6

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 7

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 8

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 9

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 10

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 11

Carved Wooden Madonna and Child, Monogrammed FB, Early 20th Century - Image 12

A hand-carved limewood sculpture of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon, holding the Christ Child with a globus cruciger, symbolising his sovereignty over the world. Mary’s missing right hand may originally have held a sceptre, completing her representation as Queen of Heaven.

The sculpture shows considerable skill in its execution, particularly in the carefully carved faces, flowing hair and deeply worked folds of the robes. The attention to detail extends to the reverse, where the sculptor discreetly incorporated a carved monogram, apparently reading FB.

Constructed from several closely joined sections of solid limewood, the sculpture retains a warm, natural wood finish. The separately carved Christ Child is secured by a wooden peg. Darkening around Mary’s feet and other signs of handling may reflect a history of devotional use, although its original setting is unknown.

The sculpture shows age-related wear, losses to Mary’s right hand and the Christ Child’s feet, and areas of wear to the surface finish. The maker and exact date remain unidentified.

Details

European religious sculpture in the Gothic tradition, depicting the Crescent Moon Madonna and Christ Child with imperial orb

Hand-carved limewood, incised monogram possibly FB, with wear and losses as described

Height 59.5 cm, width 21 cm